| dean0224 |
:2:
Finally, got my running board lighting up.
didn't see anyone post it right here so I just start this and see if anyone interested ...
About a month ago when first time X service at dealer and enjoy the coffee in the waiting room, nice sunshine afternoon. A shining X drove in and a beautiful young lady steps out the X. But the thing really caught my eyes was the running board, not the board itself but the lights on the both end of the board.
the lights were on when open the door and gradually fade out about 10 second after close the door. mmman that looks soooo cool. I need to got one of this, I thought. At the same time I heard my wife was like Woowww¡K.. and I knew I dont need to persuade her for the board no more.
Dealer said that is aftermarket 3rd party board and they dont carry that no more because the mounting kit doesn't hold very well. I dont care I just want it. I did some study for the board and post this.
http://www.acuramdx.org/forums/show...t=running+board
Most of those boards use generic mounting kit which were for ford, gm that kind of truck. And didn't see many people install here on X. I really dont have confidence neither install them myself nor by shop store. And dont know how would that look, if they match the X or not ¡K.
So I think why not using the Acura board and install light myself. The Acura board is better looking and match with the X. At least they hold the board and I dont need to worry about it comes loose when my daughter climb up the X.
Ok, long story short. After looking many different light, light bulb, light case, ¡K. I think LED is best bet. It looks cool, pull less current, smaller, easy to mount ¡K. and cheap ¡V supposed.
I remember I could buy 10- 30 LEDs with 1 buck, 20 years ago. But time seems changed. Now they charge $1-5 each. #$%^&* ..
with a little search, I found some fair price LEDs and put them on.
:2: |
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| andreseng |
| Maybe I'm getting too old. Your avatar is nice but it doesn't give me enough to look at. How about posting some pictures and telling us how you did it? What did you have to do to mount the LED's to the boards? Where did you tap in to power? Thanks! |
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| dean0224 |
I bought some WHITE and BLUE LED set
$4.99 per set (2 LED packs with 5 leds each pack)
I put 5 super white set for the running board top and 2 blue set on the buttom. |
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| dean0224 |
cut the control box and trow it away, it's just a low power Diode to prevent wrong connection. you can buy it at RadioShack 25x 1N400x for $2.5.
cut the screw mount hold
and shape it with cutter and your imagnation |
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| dean0224 |
| Just turn the switch 90 degree and move the panel out. |
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| dean0224 |
1 for the foot light another for blue driving LED
The foot light is same circuit as doom light.
white color is (+), green is (-).
Do NOT connect LED reversed. it would burn out immediately.
unless you have DIODE (before you cut the control box) |
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| dean0224 |
On LED red=(+) , black=(-)
on the foot light White with silver dot-(+) and green with silver dot =(-)
mine is 05 X model |
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| dean0224 |
The color should be WHITE but not BLUE as shown in the photo.
Dont know how to make it look like WHITE in the photo. but its white.
And I would be even happier if that's WARM WHITE instead of cold super white but I couldn't fine it. |
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| dean0224 |
| From the same web site I got single (super WHITE)194 LED $2.5 each for the door light. it's not as bright as original but it looks better with all running board LEDs on. |
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| dean0224 |
| The door light comparison |
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| dean0224 |
The LED door light works fairly good. Not as bright as otiginal but still ok, I'll put it on all for doors.
it's NOT good for doom light, cargo light and tailgate light.
I try use the 5 LED module that I used on the running board for the
Just use a 194 socket which you can buy on same web site.
doom light. it looks ok. but if you want to use it for map light to read the book or map. It might hurt your sightness.
So I'll keep the all original doom, cargo, tailgate light for better lumination.
another reason is to keep warm feeling with the saddle interior.
Only 4 door light will be switched to WHITE LED. |
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| dean0224 |
just put all running board LEDs toghther.
Here is all the LED set for 1 side.
5 superwhite LED sets and
2 blue LED set for under running board
and I didn't cut the screw hold for blue.:4: |
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| dean0224 |
and connect all terminals for (+) and (-).
These 2 connector will be connected to foot lights plug.
Better put a diode for protection but I didn't do it this time.
because I am thinking to wire this SAME LED set to both doom light and TURN SIGNAL light. isn't that cool. |
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| dean0224 |
btw here is the LED that I am using for the door light.
it has inverted lens. The light emitted to the side but not front. I originally want to use it as doom light, but found it's not bright enough. even 5 LED set is not enough.
For the door light, I suggest use the CLEAR focus lens but not inverted lens because the door light house does't have reflector.
with front focus lens LED could be brighter.
Another benefit to use the LED door light is way less power drain be LED. it's about 20mA each LED comparing with
normal 5W bulb 5W/12V = 0.4A = 400 mA
Even without change door light to LED with all LED should still be ok without need to worry to blown the interior fuse.
I check the interior fuse is 10A (120W). with all inter light
4 x 5W doom lights 5W
2 x 5W cargo light
1 x 5W tailgate light,
4 x 3.5W door light
2 x 5W foot light
total is about 70W. still have 50W room for the LED running board.
The total LED that I put on the board is
5 x 5 white LED set
2 x 5 blue LED set
each LED usually is 20 mA max
Its about 700 mA (max) for o side.
both sides on will drain maximum 1.5A less than 20W. just about the number of 4 door 5W bulb.
and actual power drain should be lower than this because each 5 LED set should drain less pwer than 5 individual LED. why? just my guess. I guess thats the way they balance the 5 LEDs in the pack with same illumination.
So I didn't see any power issue here.
Even the worse case, interior light would not cause any dangerous on driving.
$2.5 each LED is still too much.
another try is using the 5 LED set for the door light or doom but the size doesn't match. may need to mod the door ligh house. |
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| dean0224 |
all the parts, circuit and calculation are ready.
Now going to tap and route the wire.
instead spend another money buying new wire. I am using my leftover 18 gauge old speaker wire. I replaced them to 4G. |
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| dean0224 |
| from out side to the foot light plug. |
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| dean0224 |
| thru door seal and hinge |
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| dean0224 |
that's right, very un-professional.
dont know how to wire thru the body.
that's the best way I can do.
good thing is you wont see here too often and most of people wont even notice it. |
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| dean0224 |
| put mask tape on screw driver and insert the wire into the plastic board |
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| dean0224 |
can't wait to take a photo here, so exciting to see the light on.
:eek: |
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| dean0224 |
put the line above the lift jacket spot.
this photo is up side down |
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| dean0224 |
duct tape the wire.
I only have white tape that time, so here is the ugly white duct tape. |
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| dean0224 |
| finish look before turning on |
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| dean0224 |
Hide the wire behind the end cover,
clean the mount surface.
mount with provided 3M double side adhensive tape. its very sticky, carefulle select the place,
Very hard to remove it once you put it on. |
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| dean0224 |
simply route the wire over the top of the rubber wall to the under RB.
I also put another un professional electrical tape to hide the wire.
in actually the wire is not so obviously. you can just leave it.
On 2nd board, I drill a hole for the wire and that works great. |
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| dean0224 |
Since I just install the board myself 2 couple days ago. i really dont want to re-do everything again.
Beside that, I dont want to drill any hole.
but I found without uninstalling the board, I spend more effort on laying down under and working on the wiring.
and without drilling hole. you will see the wire or elec tape if you dont mind.
on 2nd board i decided to remove the board and drill hole for wiring.
i strongly recommand to unmound the board have all wiring ready and install the board, hook up the wire.
mark the mounting bracket positions, and LED position.
I put the wire connection behind the mounting bracket in case rocks bomping up from the ground and hit the wire.
and mark the LED position and hole position. |
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| dean0224 |
| clean the surface. and mark the LED and wiring hold position. |
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| dean0224 |
the close up look for the mounting.
I use the 1/8" drill bit. rubber hole will shink back so the hole is actually smaller than 1/8".
I dont know if any stuff could seal the holes. appreciate if anyone have better recommand. |
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| dean0224 |
here is the look under the board.
drill only 3 holes for middle 3 LEDs.
For both end, simply hide the wire behind the plastic end cover |
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| dean0224 |
orginize the wires insert them into the first channel.
notice I also put both blue LED set.
first one is in front of middle bracket, rear one is at end of board. |
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| dean0224 |
seperate red and black end.
group red and black to 2 bunches. |
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| dean0224 |
| connect to a lead wire to the front end of the board for easier connecting |
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| dean0224 |
this time i found some leftover black ducttape.
looks better than white,
but I am not going to change the left running board. just leave it as is. cos I dont want laying down there again and dont want un-install and install it again.
maaan, install - uninstall - install . totally I install this board 3 times.
i hate it. |
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| dean0224 |
| to make sure the wiring is ok before everying on position and found its not working |
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| dean0224 |
foot light at passenger side is very easy accessable without removing anything.
Just push the tab on the top of plug and unplug it.
cut the warp and tube. splice the wire
white (+) and
green (-)
I try mount the LED (-) end to ground but it doesn't work.
normally the foot light green wire seems NOT connect to ground but 12V.
in this way I can NOT simply connect to TURN SIGNAL.
If anyone have DOOM LIGHT and TURN SIGNAL diagram, i'll appreciate if you can post it on here or mail it to me. |
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| dean0224 |
| wair it back with elec tape and insert the plug back |
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| dean0224 |
again the lights on the top is actually SUPER WHITE with little purplish tone.
Not like the photo shown as blue.
And the 5 LED color in a pack may have different tone some may like blue. dont know why. But with all LED sets on. it's still acceptable to me. |
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| dean0224 |
top down view from driver side open door.
it's done for the running board boot light.
Total price.
$5 x 7 LED (set of 2) for both sides. = $35
$2.5 x 4 194 single LED = $10
+ shipping subtotal = $38
+ wiring nuts, elec tape, duct tape, 18G wire, splice connector, tools.
under $50. you should get them all.
I apent more for spare, testing and shipping but here is everything I put on RB for this project.
have fun
:4: |
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| TranMDX |
Looks good! I like it!
I ordered some lighted running board for my Ridgeline and will post some pictures when they are installed. |
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| dpham |
| Great job and pics. |
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| tzeus |
| :1pat: :16: No offense, but that taping job has gotta go! There has to be a better way than using masking tape and electrical tape! |
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| vlam |
No offense, but that taping job has gotta go! There has to be a better way than using masking tape and electrical tape!
Couldn't agree more. Nice job getting everything working but definitely clean up the install. |
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| mdx99 |
| Don't forget to add a fuse for left & right lights, it may burn out that $500 circuit board under the passenger side foot elctrical panel. |
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| dean0224 |
quote:
Originally posted by vlam
No offense, but that taping job has gotta go! There has to be a better way than using masking tape and electrical tape!
Couldn't agree more. Nice job getting everything working but definitely clean up the install.
oops,
dont know this is that bad. it my first time try some on the car. never done that before. And dont know what people usually do to clean up the wiring o install
:confused:
Any advise about the better(best) way to finish this up. ill do everything that i can do.
will this taping void the warranty ? or any kinds of service issue? |
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| vlam |
Any advise about the better(best) way to finish this up. ill do everything that i can do.
To start with, look into wiring gromet. You have some wires touching metals. They may be insulated but it's always a good practice to protect wires with gromet. Instead of electrical tapes, look into using zip tie or hot glue. They usually provide more secure attachments as oppose to tapes that does not fair well in hot/cold weather. |
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